Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) has issued a stern warning to all gaming operators that will fail to abide by a court directive requiring them to cease the use of the ‘speed dial’ feature on all internet browsers.
BCLB Boss Peter Mbugi in a letter addressed to the operators is demanding that they cease with immediate effect the use of the speed dial feature.
The speed dial feature allows consumers to land on a betting company’s website with a single click. It is used to advertise betting, lottery and gaming activities.
On January 16 this year, consent was adopted in court after the board, the Attorney General and CS Information reached an agreement that settled one of the contentious issues raised in the petition filed by COFEK last year.
The consent as adopted by Justice Lawrence Mugambi read “That the betting control and licensing board does and is hereby directed that all gaming operators cease the use of speed dial feature forthwith”.
The judge directed the board to enforce its directive.
In the letter dated February 16, BCLB says:
“Failure to comply with the board’s directive shall lead to the commencement of the necessary processes as stipulated in the Gaming Act in compliance with the order issued by the High Court.”
The board in its letter has also referred to the consent which the court said would serve as an order.
The case was filed in court by COFEK.
It argued that the feature exposed consumers, especially children to harmful practices through the advertisements.
It has been their case that the speed dial feature disregarded an ongoing campaign by the communications authority of Kenya which focuses on child online protection.
Cofek claimed that the betting board and other parties failed to regulate and ignored the regulation of advertisement hence posing a risk to consumers, especially children and youth.
“…that failure has led to the introduction, engagement and gaming of children and youths which has caused an addiction and other negative effects,” read their papers in part.
The organization claims that the speed dial is being used for dissemination of information which poses a great risk to consumers.
The case will still be proceeding for hearing as Cofek challenges other issues as it also seeks to have CA switch off any or all internet browsers engaged in advertising of betting, gambling and similar advertising activities.
Hearing proceeds on May 9.
